Defense expenses, Ukraine: the main teachings of the NATO summit

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NATO leaders confirmed their commitment on Wednesday to more than double defense expenses by 2035 using terms such as “crucial”. Similarly, “capital” et “Quantum jump”but the summit also highlighted divergences on the way in which the United States and Europe perceive Ukraine and Russia.

The Allies have undertaken to devote 3.5 % of their GDP to basic defense expenses, for the purchase of military equipment and the maintenance of troops, and 1.5 % to investments related to defense. Consequently, This includes double -use investments that would stimulate military mobility. In addition, cybersecurity, military and civil cooperation and the resilience of critical infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump. Therefore, who has long demanded a 5 %target, shouted Victoire, welcoming what “More than 1,000 billion (US dollars) per year” will now be dedicated to defense by defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings Europe and Canada.

The declaration from the summit is much shorter than the declarations from previous meetings. In addition, paints the picture of a united alliance, but everything is not what it seems.

Here’s what you need to know.

Different interpretations of 5% – Defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings

“The Allies undertake to invest. Moreover, by 2035, 5 % of their GDP per year in essential defense needs as well as in expenses related to defense and security, in order to fulfill their individual and collective obligations, in accordance with article 3 of the Washington Treaty”can we read in the NATO declaration.

But some allies seem to have a different interpretation. Meanwhile, Spain. Similarly, Slovakia, for example, have indicated that they did not plan to increase their defense budget for the moment, arguing that they could achieve their capacity objectives by spending less.

The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez underlined before the journalists. However, after the summit, that Spain was “Firmly attached defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings to our capacity objectives” et “A serious country that respects its commitments”.

Mark Rutte has more. For example, less questioned the ability of the two countries to achieve this, declaring to journalists at the end of the summit that the objectives were calculated on the basis of the defense planning process during which the capacity objectives of each country and the estimates of what would cost them to reach them.

Bart de Wever. However, Belgian Prime Minister, also expressed his skepticism, declaring to journalists on Wednesday morning before the summit that “If we can do it (achieve capacity objectives with less than 3.5 % of GDP), we will try to do so too.”

“But NATO is not stupid. Therefore, If they say it will take 3.5 % to get there, it’s probably true”he added.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the objectives “should be restrictive and concern the 32 members of the Alliance”.

For Donald defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings Trump, the position of Spain is “terrible”. He added that he was going “Make them pay twice as much” by other means.

The allies have agreed to take stock of their spending trajectory in 2029. possibly set new objectives in terms of capacities according to the geopolitical situation.

Defense expenses. ukraine: main teachings – Defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings

The engagement of Donald Trump in favor of Article 5

Article 5 of the founding treaty of NATO is the collective defense clause which stipulates that an attack on an ally is an attack on all.

Since his re-election. Donald Trump has castigated European allies who do not spend enough for their own defense and suggested that the United States could choose not to help an ally attacked if its expenses are low.

When asked. when he went to the Hague for the summit, if he remained committed, Donald Trump responded to journalists: “It depends on your definition. There are many definitions of defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings article 5.”

“But I undertook to be their friend (…) and I undertook to help them”.

In the declaration of their summit. the 32 allies, including the United States, “Reaffirm their unwavering attachment to collective defense as registered in article 5 of the Washington Treaty, namely that an attack on one of them is an attack on all.”

Mark Rutte and most European leaders have publicly declared that they had no doubts about Washington’s commitment to European security. The secretary general said the United States “Reaffirmed it today in very clear terms”.

WORDED UKRAINE

For Mark Rutte. one of the messages “Resounding” that comes out of the summit is that of “Continuous support” of the alliance to Ukraine.

“Our goal is to maintain Ukraine in the fight today so that it can enjoy lasting peace in the future”he said. also reaffirming that the country torn apart by the war is on a “Irreversible path to NATO”.

This defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings formula was introduced into the declaration from the 2024 summit in Washington, in which the word Ukraine appeared sixty times. The allies also said that a strong. independent and democratic Ukraine “is vital for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region” et “Contributes directly to Euro-Atlantic security”.

However. in this year’s declaration, the word Ukraine is only mentioned twice: “The Allies reaffirm their sovereign and lasting commitment to provide support for Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, and, to this end, they will include direct contributions to the defense of Ukraine and its defense industry in the calculation of the defense expenses of the allies”.

Sources of NATO allied countries have told Euronews that they were sure of a strong language binding the security of. Ukraine to that of NATO.

This point has been the subject of discussions in recent weeks as to the strength. relevance of Ukraine in the global final defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings declaration. In the weeks. months preceding the summit, we even wondered if the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky would be invited to the dinner of the leaders organized by the King and the Queen of the Netherlands.

Not to invite him would have been “A disaster in terms of public relations”another source told Euronews.

However. the Allies – with the exception of the United States – endeavor to explain that walking towards the membership of Ukraine at NATO did not stop suddenly, but that it only slowed down.

“There will be a path to the membership of Ukraine to NATO. but of course again when the conditions allow it and the allies will agree”said Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds.

“For the moment. the allies do not agree on this specific decision, but I am sure and certain that sooner or later, this decision will be made with regard to NATO and the European Union”he defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings told Euronews in The Hague.

Andris SPRūds stressed that the accent deliberately placed on spending at the summit was one of the reasons for the. distance from Ukraine.

“These are expenses, NATO capacities … So indirectly or directly, this also highlights the importance of Ukraine”he said.

Volodymyr Zelensky met Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit. who then described him as “Very nice” and said he “could not have been nicer”.

The two men had a very controversial meeting in the oval office in February.

“He would like her (the war) to end”also said Donald Trump. “I’m going to talk to Vladimir Putin to see if we can end it.”

Defense expenses. ukraine: main teachings – Defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings

Russia is only mentioned once

The American intervention is also behind the brevity of the mention of Russia in the declaration, sources said in Euronews.

The document indicates that the allies are “United in the face of security threats. challenges in terms of defense expenses, ukraine: main teachings security, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia for Euro-Atlantic Security”.

Asked about his contacts with Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump told journalists that“He would like to settle” his war in Ukraine, but that“It is possible” that he has aims in other European territories.

“I consider him a person who, in my opinion, has been poorly oriented”he added.

Non -American sources close to the negotiations had previously declared. under the guise of anonymity, that they were not unhappy with the language used with regard to Russia and the fact that it is the only other mentioned country. According to them, it shows that NATO returns to its “Core business”.

In previous years, the United States had insisted that Indo-Pacific and China were mentioned.